James r



(NO Model.)

J. R. RIGKBTTS.

WATER ENGINE.

No. 463,583. Patented Nov. 17, 1891.

NICE,

ATENT JAMES R. RICKETTS, OF HENDERSOS CROSS ROADS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES H. VHITE, OF SAMEHPLACE.

WATER-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION' formi'ng'l part of Letters Patent No, 463,583, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed Mayzll, 1891.

.To all whom 21v' may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs R. RIoKETTs, a citizen of the United States, residingat Hehdersons Cross Roads, in the county of lVilson,

State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vater-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This -invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in water-engines; and it has for its obj ects, among others, toprovide an im proved device of this characterwhich shall be capable of being operated with a small x 5 force of water and yet produce sufticient power for the purposes for which it is intended. I provide a walking-beam to which the boxes are pivoted, and a second walking-beam receiving motion from the primary walkingzo beam and adapted to disengage the boxes from their catches. The parts are so arranged as to automatically operate, the valves being automatically opened and closed in the alternate movements of the walking-beam and z 5 boxes. i

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and vin which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device with parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan with a portion of the water-receptacle broken away.

Like letters of reference indicat'e like parts in both views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a suitable foundation or base from which rise the uprig'hts A' A' and A2, the former serving as a support for the water-receptacle B, which may be of any desired capacity and shape, but preferably rectangular, as shown. It is designed to be ar ranged adjacent to a stream of running water, or it may be operated from any other source of supply, as a city water-supply, be- 5o ing arranged in any case so that the water Serial No. 392,355. (No model.)

will flow readily into the receptacle from a slig'ht elevation. c

Pivoted to an upright Z) on the side of the receptacle B is a horizontal beam O, to each end of which is pivotally secured a Vertical bar or link C', which at 'its lower end is pivotally connected to a valve D, pivoted at one end, as at d, within the receptacle and its other end adapted to close or disclose the dischar,g. 'e-opening,` c in the side wall of the re- 6o ceptacle, a suitable spout b' being provided to throw the water which passes through the said opening into the boxes hereinafter described. A suitable guide, as e, may be provided within the receptacle toguide the valve in its Vertical 1novements,although this is not absolutely necessary.

Pivoted at its center to the upright A2 is the main Walking-beam D', to each end of which is pivoted a box or receptacle E, pro- 7o Vided upon its inner end with a horizontal lip f, which is adapted to be engaged and held by the pivoted latch or catch F, which is pivoted to the said walking-beam and its free end connected to the upright A2 by a cord-or chain g, as shown; Each box is also provided with a rod h, which is adapted to engage a lateral pin t' on the walking-beam to limit its movement when the lip is disengaged from the latch. The inner upper ends of the boxes are connected with the base 01' foundation A by means of cords or chains j, as shown. The shaft of this walking-beam constitutes the power-shaft from which the power may be conveyed inany suitable nianner to the desired point.

Pivoted to'the upright A2 is a secondary walking-beam G, which is connected upon op`` posite sides of its pivot with the beam O by cords or chains 70, the preferred manner of connection being shown in Fig. 2, where I have shown lateral pins Z projecting from the beam O, and to which the said cords or chains are attached, thus bringing the connection outside of the water-receptacle.

The walking-beam G is provided at each end with a horizontal shoe or plate m, against which the outer end of the box engages when it is tilted.

The operation will be readily understood Ioo from the above description when taken iu connection with the annexed drawing's. The water fiows into the receptacle B and out through whichevcr opening may be uncovered and through the spout into the box E, which is at this time elevated, as shown in Figi. 1, the said box being held in its upright position by the latch engaging its lip, as shown. As the box becomes full, it desccnds, and as it descends it pulls upon the cord or chain g, which disengages the catch orlatch from the lip and the box tilts into the position shown at the right of Fig. 1, the stop limiting` its movement, and as it tips it engages the shoe or' plate m on the walliingbeam Gand depresses that end, thus pulling down the valve at that end of the reeeptacle and closing the opening, and at the same time opening,` the other opening by its Valve being raised, so that the watel' will flow through the said opening' into the other box, which has been raised as the other box deseended. As the box ascends, the cord or ehain attached to that latch or catch is loosened and the latch falls into engagement with the lip m on the box and holds it in its upright position;

The device is simple, cheap of construction, requires but little power, and is not liable to get out of order, and requires 110 attention on the part of an operator or attendant.

That I claim as new is- 1. The combination, with the water-receptacle having openings and the pivoted alternately-operating' Valves, of the walking-beam, the tilting boxes pivoted thereto and having lips, the pivoted latches engaging the said lips, the cords connected to the latches, and the secondary w alking-beam connected with the valve-beam and adapted to serve as set forth.

2. The combination, with the walking-beam and the pivoted boxes thereon', of the pivoted latches on the walking-beam, the cords connected to the latches, and the rods on the boxes engaging fixed stops on the beam, as Set forth.

3. The combination, with the pivoted walking-beam provided with lateral stop-pins, of the boxes pivoted to the beam and provided with lips, the stop-rods on the boxes, the cords connecting' the latches with some fixed part, and the latches pivoted on the beam, substantially as and for the pnrpose specitied.

4-. The combination, with the water-recep- 'tacle having discharge-opening near each end, of the walking-beam provided with pivoted boxes and latches, the cords connected with the boxes and latches, the beam carrying the Divoted valves the secondar walkinff-beam with its ends arranged in the path of the boxes, and the cords eonnecting the secondary beam with the valve-beam, substantially as shown and deseribed.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. RICKETTS.

Vitnesses:

B. RANDOLPH, W. M. YRN. 

